Kite



Feb. 8, 1938. w. H. A. G. VAN ITTERSUM 2,107,803

KITE

Filed Jan. 22, 7'

E e/a 2/ 0)" /7, z (Ker/1 54,46. z/uzzziezva/yz 'PatentedFeb. 8, 1938 QUNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE I f v -amm l Willem A.

G. van Ittersum, Biltlioven,

Netherlands This invention relates to kites, its object being a kite soconstructed that its lifting power is at least partly due to theso-called Magnus effect. By this effect is understood the power createdin a direction away from the side of the rarefied air adjacent arevolving cylinder impinged upon by an air current, the speedof which islower than the circumferential speed of the cylinder, owing to whichcurrent the air at one side of the cylinder is rarefied by thefrictional effect of the cyljinder, and at the other side is compressed.With this object in view, my novel kite comprises one or moresubstantially cylindrical bodies each mountedfor rotation about asubstantially 'horizontal axis and adapted to be driven by suitablemeans, preferably by the wind itself.

' In order that my invention may be well under- 1 stood, I shalldescribe the same in further detail with reference to the annexeddrawing, on which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a kite comprising .twosubstantially cylindrical rotors mounted in a common frame, and I Fig. 2is a sectional view along the line lI-II in Fig. 1.

The kite illustrated comprises two superposed, horizontal, substantiallycylindrical, hollow bodies or rotors 3 and 4, closed at both ends bydisks 3a, 3b and 4a, lb, respectively. Said bodies are rotatable aboutshafts 3c and 40, respectively,

the ends of which are supported by two parallel uprights 5a, 5b, formingparts of a light frame 5.

The uprights are interconnected by a horizontal bar 5c having extensions50', the ends of which are connected, by wires 51! and 5e respectively,to the ends of the uprights 5a, 5b so as to form a sufficiently rigidstructure. Moreover, diagonal wires 5f and 59 keep the uprights 5a, 5bin fixed relative position. To the lower ends of the uprights 5a, 5b issecured, by means of wires 6a, 6b, a pendulous tail 5 appended forbalancing purposes. The kite can be flown on a long cord or wire I,attached by wires 111, lb to the bar 50.

Each of the said substantially cylindrical bodies 3, I is composed oftwo semi-cylindrical shells 3d, 3e and 4d, 4e, respectively. The shellsof each body are radially shifted relative to one another, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, so as to form a small turbine adapted,, when impingedby the wind blowing in the direction of the arrows 8, to rotate in thedirection of the arrows 9, the rotary speed of said turbines dependingupon the speed of the wind. Owing to. this rotation, the air is rarefiedat the top side and compressed at the bottom side of each rotor, theresult being the creation of a 5 power in a direction away from theside'of the so as to amplify the tendency of the entific purposes, andowing tov its considerable lifting power it can be employed for liftinga man or other relatively heavy charges such as selfrecordinginstruments. If it is desired for said 10 charge to be raised toa-considerable height, a

train of two or more kites may be used in a manner well-known inmeteorology.

Although it is preferred forthe rotors to be driven by the wind, specialmeans may be used for said purpose. For instance, the kite may be fittedwith an electric motor operatively coupled with the rotors and fed bycurrent supplied by an accumulator or any other source of electricity.

The rotors may be made of thin cardboard, or 20 thin metal sheet, or anyother appropriate matenal and, if necessary, be reinforced by metal orother rings. The shaft 30, 40 may simply be formedby suitable lengths ofsteel piano wire if the rotors are of light construction. 2

The rotors may be used in any desired number, depending upon the purposefor which the kite is to be employed, and they may be mounted in theframe, the one vertically above the other, as shown in the drawing, orin juxtaposition, or in alignment with one another, or in any othersuitable manner.

In the example shown, the rotors form the entire lifting surface of thekite, but it will be understood that they may be combined with liftingsurfaces not movable relative to the frame.

What I claim is:-

1. A kite including a frame and a revolving motor mounted in the frameand embodying hollow semi-cylindrical bodies displaced radially withtheir axes at right angles to the line of flight.

2. A kite comprising a frame, a revolving body having its axistransverse the frame, said body including end pieces and interconnectingsubstantially semi-circular elements with their axes parallel to theaxis of the body and said elements displaced radially of the bodyrelative to each other.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the open ends of theelements are substantially in the same plane diametrically of the body.

4. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the elements are openon one side, with the open sides arranged in the same planediametrically of the body.

-WILLEM H. A. G. VAN ITTERSUM.

